Entries in Republican Party of Florida
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Comstock Images/Thinkstock(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) -- What a difference a day makes: The Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida said Thursday night that he was open to moving back the date of the state’s Republican presidential primary after GOP leaders in two other states -- South Carolina and Iowa -- threatened earlier Thursday to lead an effort to relocate the 2012 Republican National Convention from Tampa to another city out of the state.

Florida scheduled its primary for Jan. 31, leap-frogging ahead of other early states including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, all fiercely protective of their place in the presidential nominating process. The chairs of the Iowa and South Carolina Republican parties called on the Republican National Committee to punish the Sunshine State if Republicans there did not take steps to reschedule the primary later than the four traditional early states.

And Thursday night, Florida GOP Chairman Dave Bitner appeared willing to make a deal: “There are many reasons why Florida should have an early and significant role in selecting the Republican presidential nominee, yet I understand the Republican National Committee is looking to maintain an orderly primary calendar,” Bitner said in a statement.

Chairman Bitner added: "As chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, my primary concern is what is in the best interest of Florida and Florida Republicans. I commend our Legislature for standing up for Florida voters, by ensuring we have an early voice in the presidential primary process. Florida is one of the most economically and financially diverse states in the nation and provides the perfect litmus test for selecting the most viable Republican presidential nominee. As the largest swing state with 29 electoral votes, Florida is critically important to the 2012 presidential election.”